WB appoints Raad as new boss for Zim

STAFF WRITER
The World Bank Group has appointed Firas Raad as Division Director overseeing Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia.
Raad, whose appointment took effect on May 1, succeeds Nathan Belete, who has been reassigned as Regional Programs Director for Africa.
The move places Raad at the centre of a critical regional portfolio at a time when Zimbabwe is accelerating re-engagement efforts with multilateral lenders, including the World Bank, to clear an estimated US$1.61bn in outstanding obligations.
In a statement, the World Bank said Raad, a Jordanian national, brings nearly three decades of experience in development policy, with a strong focus on health systems and human capital. His career spans senior roles within the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Jordanian government.
He most recently served as the World Bank’s Country Manager for Malawi and has previously held leadership assignments in South Sudan, Malaysia and Kuwait, reflecting a broad geographical footprint across emerging and fragile economies.
Raad’s portfolio also includes experience beyond traditional development finance. He served as Head of Mission for the Office of the Quartet Representative in East Jerusalem on secondment from the Bank, and as Human Development Coordinator for Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Senior Health Specialist in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Raad holds a doctorate and master’s degree in international health policy and economics from the Harvard School of Public Health, a master’s degree in international relations from the School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Johns Hopkins University.